Vito: Development of Sixers' Carter-Williams far from over

The Sixers’ Michael Carter-Williams is almost guaranteed to win the league’s Rookie of the Year award, but his evolution as a player is far from over. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

PHILADELPHIA — Let’s get this out of the way: Michael Carter-Williams will win Rookie of the Year.

The award is still a month-plus from being announced, and votes have yet to be cast, but the 76ers’ point guard is widely considered a lock to earn the honor. Starting with his sterling premiere against Miami, during which he flirted with a triple-double, and continuing all the way through to the final weeks of his debut season, Carter-Williams has demonstrated how deserving he is of the hardware.

That being said, now would not be the appropriate time for Carter-Williams to rest on his laurels.

The 6-6 guard has the skill set and the physical attributes necessary to become a linchpin to the Sixers’ rebuilding effort. He has the statistical support to back up his Rookie of the Year candidacy. And he has the in-game experience and the mental toughness parts down, too, after enduring all that comes along with his team’s tanking campaign.

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Moving forward needs to revolve around his development, not standing pat.

The offseason, which should feature the Sixers’ involvement in two summer leagues, is critical for Carter-Williams. He needs to improve his defense. He needs to solidify his midrange game. He needs to work on his 3-point accuracy. He needs to convert more effectively at the foul line. He needs to add muscle to a slim physique.

Committing to improvement in these areas will further cement Carter-Williams’ place as a rising talent in the league.

The 22-year-old Carter-Williams even admitted at Tuesday’s practice that he had hit a rookie wall.

“I got hit a little with ‘the wall,’ as they say. I was tired,” he said. “I’ve been able to get with the trainers, Jesse (Wright, strength and conditioning coach), and keep my body healthy with KJ (head trainer Kevin Johnson). They do a great job and I’m able to bounce back from it and continue to try to play well.

“Last month, I had a lot of ups and downs. My legs were a little shot. I had some pretty good games and I wasn’t that consistent.”

Even Sixers coach Brett Brown, one of Carter-Williams’ most ardent supporters, has said his court general needs to put in a good workload this summer. Considering Carter-Williams said he only intends to take two weeks off, that’s a viable plan.

“I think it’s crucial,” Brown said, of an offseason shooting plan for MCW. “I think if he can start making some 3s at a Russell Westbrook- or Derrick Rose-type rate, he can start inching up the food chain that way, he becomes a difficult package to negotiate how to guard.”

Only recently has Carter-Williams shown an ability to stop his dribble in the lane and pop 8- to 10-foot jumpers. It’s a critical skill for a guy who lacks shooters to whom he can kick the ball. Prior to the Sixers’ last handful of games, however, Carter-Williams had demonstrated a proclivity for driving to the rim without a plan once he got there. Per game, opponents are blocking 1.6 shots by Carter-Williams, second-most in the league.

As for his shooting percentages, they’re not great.

As of Tuesday, Carter-Williams ranked among the league’s worst in a couple categories: He’s 122nd out of 124 players with a .393 field-goal percentage; would be 136th out of 137th with a .259 3-point field-goal percentage if he had enough attempts to qualify; and ranks third-worst with 3.7 turnovers per game.

Among point guards, he’s also in last place with a .696 free-throw percentage. (The next closest is Utah’s Alec Burks, who’s shooting .734 from the line.)

Despite the weaknesses, you can’t deny Carter-Williams’ effective rookie campaign. He leads all first-year guys in points, assists and rebounds, and would join Oscar Robertson and Alvan Adams as the only rookies to do so. (For good measure, he also paces rookies in steals.)

It’s extremely likely Carter-Williams will become the NBA’s Rookie of the Year despite logging the fewest wins of any past honoree. It’s a title he’ll share with Ray Felix of the 16-win Washington Bullets from 1953-54.

That postseason award means something. But it’s not everything. And it’s up to Carter-Williams to recognize that.